USA > Kentucky > A history of Kentucky and Kentuckians; the leaders and representative men in commerce, industry and modern activities, Volume III > Part 17
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Lawrence J. Droege gained his early educa- tional discipline in the parochial schools of Covington, and later continued his studies in turn in St. Francis Xavier College, in the city of Cincinnati, and St. Vincent's College, in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania. At the age of seventeen years he was appointed dep- uty city clerk of Covington and after serving in this capacity for three years he engaged in the insurance business, in which he has been most successful. On the Ist of March, 1910, he purchased the insurance agency of John Whitney, the same being one of the oldest in Covington, and he is now the representative of a number of the leading fire insurance com- panies that operate in Kentucky. In politics Mr. Droege is a staunch Democrat and he is affiliated with the Knights of Columbus, the Catholic Mutual Benefit Association and the National Union. Both he and his wife are communicants of the Catholic church and hold membership in St. Joseph's parish.
On the 30th of October, 1901, was solem- nized the marriage of Mr. Droege to Miss Anna M. Pieper, who was born and reared in Cov- ington and who is a daughter of the late Fred- erick Pieper, who was for many years engaged
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in the jewelry business in this city and who was an honored and influential citizen. Mr. and Mrs. Droege have three children,-Marga- ret Mary, Virginia Mary and Lawrence F.
CHARLES HUBERT VREELAND .- A native son of Kentucky, Mr. Vreeland has honored the state through his services in public offices of distinctive trust, including that of state com- missioner of agriculture, as well as through his productive energies along normal lines of busi- ness enterprise. He is now president and gen- eral manager of the Frankfort Printing Com- pany, which publishes the Frankfort Daily News, in the capital city of his native state, and is one of the well known citizens of Ken- tucky, where he is held in unqualified confi- dence and esteem and where he has been ac- corded special tributes of commendation for the excellent work which he did in connection with the development and improvement of the agricultural resources of the state during his incumbency of the official position previously mentioned. Charles Hubert Vreeland was born in Washington county, Kentucky, on the 4th of September, 1873, and is a son of Charles Elmer and Ida Belle (Quint) Vree- land, both of whom were likewise born and reared in Kentucky. When he was a child Mr. Vreeland's parents moved from Kentucky to Dallas, Texas, but eight years later they re- turned to Kentucky and located in Glasgow, Barren county, where they remained two years at the expiration of which time they estab- lished their home in Louisville. There the father was engaged in the real estate business for a number of years. He was a valiant soldier of the Confederacy in the war between the states, in which he served under the com- mand of General John Morgan. He passed the closing years of his life in Louisville and his wife is now living at Frankfort.
To the public schools of Texas and Ken- tucky Charles Hubert Vreeland is indebted for his early educational discipline, the greater portion of which was received in the city of Louisville. As a youth he identified himself with the newspaper business, in connection with which he familiarized himself with the intricacies of the "art preservative of all arts" and finally he became editor of the Russellville Ledger, at Russellville, Logan county. A short time afterward, however, he assumed a position on the reportorial staff of the cele- brated Louisville Courier Journal, with which well known paper he continued to be thus iden- tified for a period of four years. He was then appointed to the position of assistant commis- sioner of agriculture of the state, under Ion B. Nall, and during the four years of his
incumbency of this positoin he was also secre- tary of the State Board of Election Commis- sioners. In 1903 he was elected state com- missioner of agriculture and he retained the office for one term of four years, having assumed his executive duties in January, 1904. He made a most admirable record in his ad- ministration of this important office as he effected splendid improvements in his depart- ment. He organized county farmers' insti- tutes and also organized the State Farmers' Institute, which was afterwards made an ad- junct to the department by legislative enact- ment. He did much other work that tended greatly to forward agricultural interests in the state. As an appreciation of his effective services in this office the Kentucky State Farm- ers' Institute presented him, in 1907, with a fine gold watch. Through his influence while commissioner of agriculture many important changes were made in the management of the state fair, bringing its annual exhibitions up to a high standard and thus insuring their cumu- lative popularity. Mr. Vreeland served as president of the State Fair Association dur- ing the time he was commissioner of agricul- ture. Upon his retirement from this office in 1907, there came distinctive marks of popular appreciation and confidence in that he was made, without opposition, the Democratic nominee for the office of secretary of state, but owing to normal political exigencies, which compassed the defeat of the party ticket in the state that year, he was not elected. In Janu- ary, 1908, Mr. Vreeland purchased the busi- ness and plant of the George A. Lewis Pub- lishing Company, of Frankfort, and reorgan- ized the business under the title of the Frank- fort Printing Company, which is duly incor- porated under the laws of the state and of which he is president and manager. The com- pany does a general printing and publishing business, being one of the state printers. The company also publishes the Frankfort Daily Nowe's, which is an afternoon issue and which is one of the leading exponents of the Demo- cratic party in the state, as well as a valiant promoter of local interests. Mr. Vreeland has ever given an unqualified alliegance to the Democratic party and he is identified with various social and fraternal organizations of a representative character. He was a member of the Kentucky Committee at the Jamestown Exposition.
In the year 1900 was solemnized the mar- riage of Mr. Vreeland to Miss Hallie Elise Rodman, of Frankfort, and they have four children, namely: Charles Elmer, Elizabeth Hunt, Virginia Russell and Russell Rodman Vreeland.
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HENRY S. VANZANT .- A scion of one of the old and honored families of Metcalfe county, Kentucky, where his paternal grandfather and great-grandfather established their home in the pioneer days, Mr. Vanzant has well up- held the high prestige of the honored name which he bears and is at the present time chief clerk in the department of insurance of the state of Kentucky, thus maintaining his resi- dence in Frankfort, the capital city. Mr. Van- zant was born on the homestead farm in Met- calfe county, Kentucky, on the 13th of Decem- ber. 1870, and is a son of Milton S. and Ellen Elizabeth (Holland) Vanzant, both of whom were likewise born and reared in Metcalfe county. Milton S. Vanzant, a son of Hugh R. Vanzant, was born, reared and died in the same residence in Metcalfe county, where his entire active career was one of close identifica- tion with agricultural pursuits. His widow still resides on the old homestead, and of the nine children four are now living.
Henry S. Vanzant reverts in memory to the associations of the home farm in connection with his early discipline, and his preliminary educational training was that of the common schools, after leaving which he continued his studies in Edmonton Academy. He continued to be associated in the work and management of the home farm until he had attained to the age of twenty years, when he assumed the po- sition of clerk in the dry goods store of his elder brother at Edmonton, Metcalfe county. In 1894 he was the Republican candidate for county clerk, and that he made an admirable campaign and secured the support of a large number of citizens of the county needs no fur- ther voucher than that he was defeated by only one vote, thus overcoming a long fixed and large Democratic majority. He afterward be- gan the study of law under the preceptorship of John W. Compton, a well known attorney of Edmonton, and in 1898 he was admitted to the bar. He began the practice of his profes- sion in Edmonton and gained unqualified suc- cess in his chosen field, proving himself a ver- satile trial lawyer and showing himself well fortified in the minutia of the law. He con- tinued to be engaged in active practice until 1902, when he was appointed to the position of United States gauger, in which capacity he served five years, with official headquarters at Owensboro, this state. On the 6th of Janu- ary, 1908, there came further mark of distinc- tion and of his eligibility in that he was ap- pointed to his present position, that of chief clerk in the insurance department of the state government. Mr. Vanzant has always been aligned as an uncompromising advocate of the principles and policies of the Republican party
and has given effective service in behalf of its cause. He is a Master Mason and is also affil- iated with the Knights of Pythias.
On the 5th of December, 1892, was solem- nized the marriage of Mr. Vanzant to Miss Pearl McKey, of Randolph, Metcalfe county, where she was born and reared. They have one child, Henry Russell Vanzant.
EDWARD E. WALKER .- Realty is the basis of all security and the foundation of security in real estate transfers is found in the probity, knowledge and liberality of those by whom they are conducted. Holding, by reason of prudence, integrity and significant ability, as well as through the wide scope and importance of operations, a position of much prominence among the real estate dealers of the city of Covington, Mr. Walker has been enabled to exert an emphatic and noteworthy influence in connection with the upbuilding of "Greater Covington," where his operations have been widely diversified and wholly beneficial in the promotion of the material and civic advance- ment of the city. In the fire insurance branch he has represented some of the largest corpor- ations in this and foreign countries. Most of these large fire corporations have been continu- ously represented by Mr. Walker since 1893.
Edward Everett Walker is a native of Cov- ington, where he was born on the 17th of July, 1861, and he is a son of Eliphalet and Frances (Townsend) Walker, the former of whom was born near the city of Pittsburg, Pennsyl- vania, and the latter in Campbell county, Ken- tucky. Eliphalet Walker was a son of Nathan Walker, who was likewise born in the old Key- stone state, and who was of staunch German lineage. In 1851 Nathan Walker established his residence in Covington, Kentucky, where he was the first in this section of the west to engage in the manufacture of high beaver hats. He had learned his trade in the city of Pittsburg, and in connection with his opera- tions after locating in Covington, he purchased beaver skins from trappers and utilized the same in the manufacture of his hats for which there was a ready demand. In 1855, in com- pany with a large colony, he made the trip across the plains to California, and he later es- tablished his home in Portland, Oregon, where he continued to reside until his death, which occurred when he had attained to the patri- archial age of ninety-nine years and three months. The hat manufactory which he had established in Covington was continued by his son Eliphalet and his step-son Joseph Havlin, and the latter's son John likewise became iden- tified with the enterprise. It may be noted that John Havlin is now a representative business man of Cincinnati, Ohio, where he owns and
Vol. III-6
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conducts the Havlin Hotel and he is also a principal stockholder in the circuit of theatres bearing his name throughout the various sec- tions of the Union. Mrs. Keziah Walker, wife of Nathan Walker, was likewise a native of Pennsylvania, and she died in Covington, Ken- tucky, at the age of eighty-seven years.
Eliphalet Walker was reared to adult age in his native state, where his educational ad- vantages were those of the common schools and he was about nineteen years of age at the time of the family removal to Covington. He continued to be associated with his step- brother in the hat business for several years and thereafter he built up a successful busi- ness in the line of his trade as a pattern and model maker, with headquarters in the city of Cincinnati, Ohio. For a number of years past he has lived virtually retired from active busi- ness and he has maintained his home consecu- tively in Covington since his youth. At the time of the Civil war he was a staunch sup- porter of the cause of the Union, and he served as a member of the home guards. His wife, who was a representative of an old and honored Kentucky family, died in Covington in 1871, at the age of twenty-nine years. They became the parents of four sons and two daughters, and all are living with the excep- tion of two sons.
Edward E. Walker, the eldest of the four living children, is indebted to the public schools of Covington for his early educational discipline, and at the age of sixteen years he entered upon an apprenticeship at the pattern- maker's trade, under the direction of his father. He became a skilled workman and he continued to be engaged in the work of his trade in Cincinnati until 1891, when he was ap- pointed cashier for the Sixth Kentucky inter- nal-revenue district, under the late David N. Comingore, the collector for this district. Mr. Walker held this position for two years, at the expiration of which, in 1893, he resigned the same and established himself in the real estate and insurance business, with which he has since been successfully identified. He has handled many large and valuable properties and upon his books are represented at all times most attractive investments, as well as properties for exchange. He is known as a progressive and enterprising business man, and his course has been such as to retain to him the unqualified confidence and esteem of all with whom he has had dealings. He is one of the popular citizens of his native city and takes a deep interest in all that tends to advance its material and civic prosperity.
In politics Mr. Walker has ever accorded an uncompromising allegiance to the Republican
party and he has given efficient service in be- half of its cause. In 1897 he was appointed assistant postmaster at Covington, and he held this position for four years under the adminis- tration of Orin A. Reynolds. He served one term as a member of the board of education of Covington and one term as a member of the city board of aldermen. He served Kenton county in the 1908 session of the Kentucky legislature as state senator, overcoming a nor- mal Democratic majority of two thousand. He is a director of the local organization of the Young Men's Christian Association, has been an incumbent of this position for a number of years, and is also a member of the board of trustees of the Protestant Children's Home. Both he and his wife hold membership in the Shinkle Methodist Episcopal church and he is a valued member of its board of trustes.
In the year 1891 was solemnized the mar- riage of Mr. Walker to Miss Amy Lotz, who was born and reared in Covington and who is a daughter of the late George Lotz, who was for many years one of the representative mer- chants of Covington, where he was engaged in the shoe business. Mr. and Mrs. Walker have five children,-Merl, Pearlie, Mae, Kenneth and Hazel. Pearlie is now the wife of Charles Mann, of Covington.
PETER N. BARDO is a retired manufacturer, but is joint owner with Thomas Ford in the Bourbon Copper & Brass Works, whose cap- ital stock is $50,000 and also has numerous other interests, among them a high official capacity in the Citizens' Commercial & Sav- ings Barik of Newport. He is one of the city's substantial citizens, and has from time to time played a prominent and valuable part in the management of its affairs. He was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, April 4, 1847, and is the son of Nicholas and E Elizabeth (Greenwall) Bardo, the former a native of Italy and the latter of Pennsylvania. The senior Bardo came to the United States when young and located in Cincinnati, where he married and engaged in the confectionary trade for a num- ber of years, meeting with much suceess in this vocation. He resided in Newport for a good many years prior to his death, which occurred in 1865, at the age of fifty-four years. His wife preceded him to the beyond, her de- mise being when she was but thirty-five years of age. They were the parents of seven chil- dren, all of whom are deceased with the ex- ception of Mr. Bardo and a sister Elizabeth, who became the wife of James Pratt of Cin- cinnati.
Peter N. Bardo, who was the third child in order of birth, was about eight years of age when his parents moved to Newport. Here
Peter A Bordo
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he was reared and here received his education in the public schools.
When he was a very young man he entered a brass foundry in Cincinnati and during his employment because master of all the details of the trade. He served in various capacities in the business for about eighteen years and in the early seventies, in partnership with Thomas Ford, John G. Hatch and John Elli- horst, bought the Robinson Brass Foundry, the establishment in which he had worked for so long a time. It was then known as the Bour- bon Copper & Brass Works and was one of the oldest businesses of its kind in Cincinnati. It has since been carried on under the same name and at present and for several years past the plant has been owned jointly by Mr. Bardo and Thomas Ford, who in 1903 incorporated the same under the laws of Ohio with a capital stock of $50,000. It is most successful and of extensive operation, having in years past built the majority of the distilleries in Ken- tucky.
Mr. Bardo was one of the organizers of the Citizens' Commercial and Savings Bank of Newport and is a member of the board of directors. He is likewise a member of the water works commission and served for two years on the board of aldermen. In politics he is an uncompromising Democrat and fra- ternally he is associated with the Newport Elks, of which he is one of the oldest mem- bers, his membership number being 47. He and his family are communicants of the Cath- olic church.
Mr. Bardo was married in 1872 to Miss Mary Ford, a native of the state of Maryland and daughter of Owen Ford, who was born in Ireland and upon emigrating to America, lived first in Maryland and then in Newport. Mr. Ford was the father of four children only one of whom is living, a son named Thomas. Those deceased are Patrick, James and John, all of whom grew to maturity. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Bardo was blessed by the birth of ten children, of whom the following are living: Peter Jr., Alice, Stella, Catherine, John. William, Thomas, and Gertrude. A daughter Mary is deceased. Mrs. Bardo died in August 1907, and her mortal remains were interred in St. Stephens cemetery. During the Civil war Mr. Bardo served as a member of the Home Guards.
HARRY. M. HEALY, JR .- The financial his- tory of Kentucky would be very incomplete and unsatisfactory without personal and some- what extended mention of those whose lives are interwoven so closely with the industrial, commercial, financial and political develop- ment of the country. The subject of this re-
view, while professionally an attorney, has been identified with so many other enterprises that a resume of the business enterprises of both himself and his father will be of interest to our readers.
Harry M. Healy, Jr., of Newport, Kentucky, was born in Newport on the 26th of April, 1873, the son of Henry M. and Ellen ( McEn- tee) Healy. The father was a native of Ire- land, and came to the United States with his parents when only three weeks old, was reared in New York and spent his early life there. The mother was born in Albany, New York, reared and educated in that city, and finally married there. In 1859, when the father was about twenty years old, he came west, having learned the binder's trade, all the branches of the printing business, especially binding and ruling, and upon arriving at Cincinnati he be- came the head of one of the largest printing and binding establishments in that city. It was not long before he bought the establisli- ment and from that time on operated the same for a number of years with great success, un- til his death, which occurred in 1899. Soon after his marriage he located in Newport as a resident and completely identified himself with that place, taking an active part in all affairs that would be of benefit to that city. He helped to organize the first electric light plant in Newport and Covington and was for years secretary and treasurer of the same. He was also one of the organizers of the street railway company in those cities connecting with Cin- cinnati. Mr. Healy was also interested in many real estate and development propositions in Newport, Bellevue and Dayton, and at the head of many important interests in building up those places. He was cashier of the New- port National Bank for two years during the panic of 1890 and carried the business through successfully. A staunch Democrat, he was act- ive in politics and was chairman of the execu- tive committee for twenty-five years. He never sought or held office but was a very in- fluential man and did much for his party and friends. His widow survives, living in New- port, the mother of eight children, six of whom are living.
Harry M. Healy, Jr., is the fifth child in or- der of birth and was reared in Newport and received a liberal education. His father gave all his children a first-class education, every one of whom attended the public schools, the high school and college. Our subject gradu- ated from the Jesuit College at St. Mary's, Kansas. In 1897 he entered the Cincinnati Law School, from which he was graduated in 1900. His father dying in 1899 placed the charge of the extensive printing and binding
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plant in Cincinnati in our subject's hands, and he sold the same in a few years. In 1903 he engaged in the active practice of the law in Newport and has continued the same to the present time. Mr. Healy is a Democrat al- though not taking an active part, and is a mem- ber of the Knights of Columbus. He has many business interests, operates a moving picture show, organized the Commonwealth Coal Company and is a director of the same. He married, in 1906, Marguerite H. Edgar, a native of Newport, where she was reared and educated. Mr. Healy is a Catholic and his wife a Methodist. One of the prominent char- acteristics of Mr. Healy's successful business career is that his vision has never been bounded by the exigencies of the moment, but has covered as well the possibilities and oppor- tunities of the future. This has led him into extensive undertakings, bringing him into marked prominence as a financier. He has figured for many years most prominentlv and honorably in financial interests and has been one of the real upbuilders and promoters of the city of his birth.
ORIE S. WARE .- One of the representative members of the bar of Kenton county is Orie Solomon Ware, who is engaged in the success- ful practice of his profession in the city of Covington and who is a scion of one of the honored pioneer families of Kentucky.
Mr. Ware was born at Peach Grove, Pen- dleton county, Kentucky, on the IIth of May, 1882, and is a son of Solomon G. and Ida F. (Petty) Ware, the former of whom was born in Campbell county, this state, and the latter in Kenton county. Daniel W., great-grand- father of him whose name initiates this review, was a native of Virginia and came to Ken- tucky in the latter part of the eighteenth cen- tury in company with two or more of his brothers. They established their home in Campbell county, where one of the brothers, Israel, had a patent for one thousand acres of land, being one of the first to secure such pat- ent in the state. William Ware, father of Sol- omon G. Ware, was born in Campbell county and became one of the prosperous agricultur- ists and influential citizens of that section of the state. Solomon G. Ware was likewise identified with agricultural pursuits during the earlier part of his active carcer and in 1889 he established his home in Covington, where he has since been engaged in active business, as had he previously in Pendleton county for a period of five years. He is a staunch Demo- crat in his political proclivities, is known as one of the sterling and representative business men of Covington and both he and his wife hold membership in the Baptist church. Sol-
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